Malaysia · Spouse visas
Malaysia Spouse of a citizen
First stay: 5 yrs
Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) — Husband or Wife of a Malaysian Citizen
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Malaysia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- First stay
- 5 yrs
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
Extension is decided on application; after 3 years on a long-term pass a spouse can apply for a 5-year Residence Pass.
Permanent residenceConditions
The husband or wife of a Malaysian citizen is one of the categories for which permanent residence (an Entry Permit) can be applied for.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 10 years of residence
Naturalisation needs residence in Malaysia for at least 10 of the 12 years before applying, including the last 12 months, plus Malay language knowledge, good character and intent to settle permanently.
Where to applyWhere to apply
The applicant applies in person together with the Malaysian spouse.
Presence rulesStay rule
Immigration verification visits can check the address and the conditions of the pass.
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Applicant is the husband or wife of a Malaysian citizen, with the marriage legally registered under Malaysian law.
- Applicant holds or is granted a Social Visit Pass under the facility for spouses of Malaysian citizens.
Documents5
- Forms Imm.12 (or Imm.55) and Imm.38, marriage certificate and child birth certificate if any.
- Latest affidavit that the marriage exists and is still valid, plus wedding photographs.
- Security bond form stamped RM10 at the tax office.
- Malaysian spouse's identity card and passport copies and proof of the spouse's income.
- Work endorsement: statutory declaration, job offer letter, contract stamped RM10 and employer SSM registration printout.
Steps2
- Application is submitted by the applicant in person together with the Malaysian spouse.
- Work or business approval is applied for with the pass or any time later, and is endorsed in the passport.
After you arrive1
- Immigration verification visits (Naziran) can check the address and conditions and inform extensions.
What happens at day 182
How Malaysia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 5 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 182 days in a calendar yearResident for tax in Malaysia if present 182 days or more in the year; linked-year and 90-day tests also exist.
- At least 182 days in a basis year (calendar year)Presence in Malaysia of 182 days or more makes an individual resident; fewer than 182 days generally means non-resident.
- Foreign-source income
Foreign-source income exempt
Resident individuals are exempt from tax on foreign-source income received in Malaysia from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2036, except income from partnership businesses.
- Special regime
Exemption for foreign-source income received by resident individuals · Tax relief
All tax rules for Malaysia Tax records checked
Full official text
Residence pass for the foreign husband or wife of a Malaysian citizen, granted for up to 5 years, with work or business allowed once endorsed in the passport. 1
Requirements
- Applicant is the husband or wife of a Malaysian citizen, with the marriage legally registered under Malaysian law. 1
- Applicant holds or is granted a Social Visit Pass under the facility for spouses of Malaysian citizens. 1
- Forms Imm.12 (or Imm.55) and Imm.38, marriage certificate and child birth certificate if any. 1
- Latest affidavit that the marriage exists and is still valid, plus wedding photographs. 1
- Security bond form stamped RM10 at the tax office. 1
- Malaysian spouse's identity card and passport copies and proof of the spouse's income. 1
- Work endorsement: statutory declaration, job offer letter, contract stamped RM10 and employer SSM registration printout. 1
- Application is submitted by the applicant in person together with the Malaysian spouse. 1
- Work or business approval is applied for with the pass or any time later, and is endorsed in the passport. 1
- Immigration verification visits (Naziran) can check the address and conditions and inform extensions. 1
Stay
- Issued for a minimum of 6 months and up to 5 years, subject to approval and conditions; extension is decided on application.
- First stay: 6 to 60 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work, business or professional employment is permitted without converting to an Employment Pass; approval is endorsed in the passport and the activity must be lawful.
Family
Children under 7 of a citizen whose citizenship is undetermined, and stepchildren of a citizen, can be applied for by the citizen parent.
Official sources
- Long Term Social Visit Pass (including husband or wife of a Malaysian citizen) · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence Pass (Regulation 16A categories) · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
- Entry Permit (permanent residence) categories · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for citizenship under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution (aged 21 and over) · National Registration Department (JPN), Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a permanent resident Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a stay permit holder Indonesia | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a citizen United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
Issued for a minimum of 6 months and up to 5 years, subject to approval and conditions; extension is decided on application.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
Yes. Work, business or professional employment is permitted without converting to an Employment Pass; approval is endorsed in the passport and the activity must be lawful.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?
Children under 7 of a citizen whose citizenship is undetermined, and stepchildren of a citizen, can be applied for by the citizen parent.
Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Malaysia?
The husband or wife of a Malaysian citizen is one of the categories for which permanent residence (an Entry Permit) can be applied for. The general rule for citizenship is 10 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Spouse of a citizen holders in Malaysia?
Malaysia: exemption for foreign-source income received by resident individuals (1 January 2022 to 31 December 2036): Resident individuals are exempt from tax on foreign-source income received in Malaysia from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2036, except income from partnership businesses. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Malaysia: exemption for foreign-source income received by resident individuals (1 January 2022 to 31 December 2036)
Tax relief
Details
Resident individuals are exempt from tax on foreign-source income received in Malaysia from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2036, except income from partnership businesses. Income from work performed in Malaysia is taxed at normal resident rates.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income received in Malaysia by an individual tax resident; Malaysian-source income (including pay for work exercised in Malaysia) is taxed under normal resident rates.
Who it applies to
- The individual is a Malaysian tax resident for the basis year, normally present 182 days or more.
- The income arises outside Malaysia and is received in Malaysia by the individual.
- The income is not partnership business income.
Exclusions
- Income from work exercised in Malaysia is Malaysian-source whoever pays it and is taxed under the resident scale rates.
- Partnership business income is outside the individual exemption.
Days in the country
- At least 182 days in calendar year · Resident for tax in Malaysia if present 182 days or more in the year; linked-year and 90-day tests also exist.
Tax residence
Residence follows physical presence of 182 days or more in the basis year; linked-year and 90-day tests also exist.
Visas
No visa grants this exemption; it applies to any tax-resident individual. MM2H separately states a tax exemption on foreign funds and income.
Other taxes
Sales and service tax, employee contributions and withholding tax are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Malaysia
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Long Term Social Visit Pass (including husband or wife of a Malaysian citizen) · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence Pass (Regulation 16A categories) · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
- Entry Permit (permanent residence) categories · Immigration Department of Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for citizenship under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution (aged 21 and over) · National Registration Department (JPN), Malaysia · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.